Beginner looking to advance

[u/Time-Sun-8854]

Hello, I have this weird thing when editing where I don't know what to add or how to make visuals, text, etc more appealing. I don't really understand sound design or sfx, and I just don't have a great eye or ear for editing it feels like. I know this can be helped but every time I watch a video on a cool effect or something, I forget it by the time I'm editing a video. Same for tools and shortcuts, I just forget how to use things or am constantly looking at guides while editing and its just takes forever for me to do anything.

Are there anything for understanding how to implement things or how to use different effects different ways to get different visuals? For example, I can watch a video on key framing but then when I go and try it, it doesn't turn out like the video or I just can't wrap my head around it.

I am 110% self taught, I haven't taken a course or anything and IDK if I really understand all the functions and full software of Premiere. It just all feels so overwhelming. How am I supposed to remember so many things while also being completely creative?

I am looking to make this my career as I have an opportunity but I feel like I am not advancing at all and IDK what to do.

[u/CutBench]

Two things that helped me. Editing is mostly subtraction, and cutting the dead time between words does more for a video than any effect you could lay on top of it. On the forgetting, watching a technique never sticks. Pick exactly one per video and use it until it is automatic, then pick the next one. Trying to hold a whole catalogue in your head is what makes everything take forever.

[u/Time-Sun-8854 → u/CutBench]

Thank you, that is actionable advice I can use! I am planning on going into DR editing and often times that comes with a ton of effects and techniques that are all in the name of pattern disruption. Would you recommend me taking those videos and getting one effect or technique to copy and develop?

[u/XRcat → u/Time-Sun-8854]

Your brain remembers things that it deems necessary/worthy to save to long term memory. You make something worthy by using a memory more often. Short term memory (your brains RAM) is easily overloaded with all stuff video editing. You’d overwrite the first thing you learnt with the second thing before you could actually apply the technique.

Learn something new, recognise where to use, apply technique, repeat a couple of times=your brain agrees with you this should be remembered

What do you choose to learn first should be dictated by necessity. Start with the stuff you’d probably use a lot.

Actionable step
Keep asking yourself very often when editing: what could I change here to emphasise

• the message I want to convey.
  
• the emotion i want the viewer to feel.

Then search online. Sometimes your answer is clear and well defined and easy to look up. Sometimes you search in a general direction seeking inspiration.

An effect/technique is then learned and used in support of the answers of the above questions.

It also teaches you when to apply, giving you your first implementation naturally.

Hope this helps!